Radiatob-cap



C. E. GIFFORD.

RADIATOR CAP.

APPLICATION nuzo JULY 7,1920.

Patented 11111621, 1921.

inn newton CIiG-rfford.

attozw- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RADIATOR-GAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 21, 1921.

Application filed July 7, 1920. Serial No. 394,444.

I To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I,"CLAYT0N E. Grrrom), a citizen of the United States,residing at Marion, in the county of Marion and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Radiator- Caps, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention has for its object toprovide an improved cap structurewhich'is especially designed for application to motor vehicle radiatorsand possesses novel features of construction enhancing the security ofthe fastening of the cap and facilitating its convenient opening andclosing movements.

With this and other objects in view, the invention consistsin certainnovel features 'of construction as hereinafter shown and described andthen specifically pointed outin the claims, and in the drawingsillustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 represents a fragmental. perspective view of the radiator of amotor vehicle illustrating the improved cap applied thereto. Fig. 2represents a front elevaiion of the cap detached, and,

Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

i the radiator through which the latter is filled with water or otherliquid.

The upper edge of the spout or collar 5 is formed with an upstanding rimor flange 8 and also with diametrically opposed outwardly projectingears 9 and 10 arranged at the rear andfront of the spout, respectively.The top designated generally by the numeral 11 consists essentially in afiat substantially circular body having a rearwardly directed extension12 provided with depend- .ing cars 13 which straddle the ear 9 and re-.ceive a pivot pin 14 whereby the cap 11 is hingedly supported at therear portion of the spout or collar 8. The underside of the cap body 11is formed with a circular depression 15 receiving a gasket 16 adapted toseat upon the rim 8 of the spout to efi'ectively close the latter andprevent leakage of the liquid contents of the radiator.

The front portion of the cap body is provided with a forwardly directedlug 17 receivlng a pivot pin 18 on which a fastening element designatedgenerally by the numeral 19 1s plvotally secured. The fastening elementconsists of a tubular body 20 having an apertured closed terminal 21 andspaced arms 22 disposed at the end opposite 21 and receiving the pivotpin 18 whereby pivotal connection is established between the terminal ofthe fastening element and the cap.

The bifurcations or arms 22 of the casing 20 are spaced sufliciently toaccommodate the lug 10 of the spout 8 when the casing is swungdownwardly to operative position as illustrated in the drawing in fulllines. However, when the fastening element is swung upwardly the lug 101s disengaged thereby permitting the cap 11 to be swung to openposition.

The underside of the lug 10 is provided with a cam face 23 engaged bythe rounded head 24 of a plunger slidably mounted in the casing 20 andincluding a shank which extends through the apertured terminal 21 of,

the casing. The lower extremity of the shank externally of the casing isprovided with a circular head 25 for limiting the upward movement of theplunger under the influence of the spring 26 which latter is confined.in the casing or housing between the head 24 and closed terminal 21. Thearrangement of the cam face 23 is suchthat when the cap 11 is closed andthe fastening element 20 swung downwardly, the spring actuated plungerpressing against the cam face causes a compression of'the spring 26 thusforcibly drawing the cap against the flange or rim 8 of the spout andestablishing a tight joint. As the plunger moves upon the flat lowersurface of the lug 26 the spring is maintained under compression and thehousing is effectively prevented from swinging outwardly and therebyreleasing the cap.

What I claim is: i

1. The combination with an automobile radiator including a flanged inletthereto,of a cap overlying the flanged inlet and pivoted at one sidethereof, a latch lug extendingradially of the flanged outlet, aprojection extending radially from said cap nnmediately above and inline with said latch lug, a latch housing having its upper endbifurcated to span the projection of said cap and pivoted thereto, and alatch member carried in said housing and adapted 'for engagement withthe under face of. said latch lug, when said latch housing is swung tooperative position.

2. In combination, a supporting member, a cap pivotally secured thereto,a fastening element pivotally secured to the cap, said fastening elementincluding a plunger and a spring actuated means therefor, and anoutwardly directed latch lug carried by the supporting member andadapted to be engaged by the plunger to maintain the spring means undercompression whereby to retain the cap in closed position.

retain the cap closed.

4. In combination, a supporting member, a cap hingedly secured thereto,a fastening element pivotally secured to the cap, said fastening elementincluding a spring actuated plunger, and an outwardly directed lugcarried by the supporting member provided with a cam face adapted tocompress the spring actuated plunger during movement of the fasteningelement to operative position, said fastening element being capable ofbeing swung to inoperative position when the cap is closed, said lughaving a flat underside for engagement with the plunger to prevent thelatter from swinging out of operative position.

5. In combination, a supporting member, acap hingedly secured thereto, ahousing having a bifurcated extremity pivotally sesecured to the capwhereby the housing may be swung to inoperative position, a lug pro-'ecting outwardly from the supporting memer engageable between thebifurcations of the housing, and a spring actuated plunger mounted inthe housing engageable with the lug to maintain the cap in closedposition.

6. In combination, a supporting member, a cap hingedly secured thereto,an extension pivotally secured to the cap and movable to inoperativeposition relative thereto, a housing having a bifurcated extremitypivotally secured to said extension, a lug carried by the supportingmember adapted to be received between the bifurcations of the housle bythe plungerto maintain the latter under compression and ing when thelatter is moved to operative position, and a spring actuated plungermounted in the housing, said lug having a cam face adapted to coact withthe plunger to compress the latter as the housing is moved to operativeposition.

7. In combination, a supporting member, a cap hingedly secured thereto,an extension carried by the cap, a housing having a bifurcated extremitypivotally secured to the extension, a lug formed on the supportingmember having a cam face and a flat underside, said housing having theopposite end closed, and a spring actuated plunger mounted in thehousing provided with a rounded terminal arranged to engaged the camface whereby the plunger is compressed as the housing is moved 'tooperative position to lock the cap in position upon the supportingmember.

8. The combination with an automobile radiator including a flanged inletthereto of a cap overlying the flanged inlet an pivoted at one sidethereof, a latch lug extending radially of said flanged inlet and havingits free end curved to provide a downwardly extending cam face,aprojection extending radially of'said cap member immediately above andin. line with said latch lug, a latch housing having its upper endbifurcated to span the projection of said cap and pivoted thereto, and aresilient latch member carried in said housing and adapted to be movedinto locking engagement with said latch lug by the cam face of thelatter when said housing is swung downwardly into operative position. i

9. The combination with an automobile radiator including a flanged inletthereto, of a cap overlying the flanged inlet and pivoted at one sidethereof, a latch lug extending radially of said flanged inlet "andhaving its free end curved to provide a downwardly extending cam face, aprojection extending radially of said cap member immediately above andin line with said latch lug, a latch housing closed at one end andhaving its other end bifurcated to span. the projection of said capmember and pivoted thereto, anda latch member resiliently seated in theclosed end of said housing and adapted to be moved into lockingengagement with said latch lug by the cam face of the latter, when thehousing is swung downwardly into operative position.

10. The combination with an automobile radiator including a flangedinlet thereto, of a cap overlying the flanged inlet and pivoted at oneside thereof, a latch lug extending radlally of said'fianged inlet andhaving its free enddownwardly andv inwardly curved to provide a camface, a projection extending radially of said cap member immediatelyabove and in line with said latch lug, a cylindrical latch housinghaving its outer end closed and its inner end bifurcated to span theprojection of said cap and pivoted thereto, and a. latch member seatedwlthin the closed end of said housin 5 and having a curved head portionadapte for cooperation with the cam face of said latch lug, whereby thesame is moved into locking engagement with the latch lug when thehousing 1s swung downwardly into operative posltion.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

CLAYTON E. GIFFORD.

